COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong MLA
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Jonathan Craig MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Claire McCanny (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Joy Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Clerical Supervisor)
The meeting began in public session at 10.31am.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson formally welcomed the new Member of the Social Development Committee, Mr Alex Easton.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 10 September 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Members Interests
Members noted the Declaration of Interests for Mr Alex Easton.
4.2 Housing (Amendment) Bill submissions.
The Committee noted two further submissions received in relation to the Housing (Amendment) Bill from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister and Belfast City Council.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to accept these two additional submissions.
5. Housing (Amendment) Bill – Evidence Session from Housing Rights Service.
The following representatives from Housing Rights Service joined the meeting at 10:36am:
Janet Hunter – Director, Housing Rights Service; and
Nicola McCrudden – Policy and Communications Manager, Housing Rights Service.
The representatives gave oral evidence on the Housing (Amendment) Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the oral evidence.
The representatives left the meeting at 11:10am.
6. Committee End of Session Report
The Committee noted the 2008-09 End of Session Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the 2008-09 End of Session Report.
7. Housing (Amendment) Bill- Evidence from Simon Community (NI)
The following representatives from the Simon Community Northern Ireland joined the meeting at 11:13am:
Paddy McGettigan – Director of Housing and Support Services, Simon Community Northern Ireland; and
Ciara O’Hagan– Director of Finance and Facilities, Simon Community Northern Ireland; and
Alyson Kilpatrick- Board Member, Simon Community Northern Ireland.
The representatives gave oral evidence on the Housing (Amendment) Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the oral evidence.
The representatives left the meeting at 11:50am.
Ms Lo left the meeting at 11:50am.
Mrs Bradley left the meeting at 11:50am.
8. Correspondence
Ministerial Correspondence:
8.1 The Committee noted a letter from the Minister advising of a planned public consultation on the Physical Regeneration Concept Masterplans for five areas of Belfast and a related Equality Impact Assessment.
Departmental:
8.2 The Committee considered correspondence from the Department providing an update on progress in respect of the Review of Public Administration (RPA) milestones.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department requesting an early briefing on the Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill and its link to the Department of Environment’s RPA Bill.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department to request a Departmental briefing on Community Planning proposals.
Other Correspondence:
8.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on their consideration of social tariffs.
8.4 The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure relating to projects funded with revenue from the proceeds of crime.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Department for a response.
Invitations:
8.5 The Committee considered an invitation from the Bryson Charitable Group to attend their Annual Review on Monday 28 September 2009 at the Europa Hotel, Belfast.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson to attend as their diaries permit.
Mr Easton left the meeting at 11:56am.
8.6 The Committee considered an invitation from Save the Children to attend a discussion, on Tuesday 22 September 2009 in the Long Gallery, on the Child Poverty Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson to attend as their diaries permit.
Ms Lo rejoined the meeting at 11:58am.
9. Housing (Amendment) Bill – Evidence Session from the Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland.
The following representatives joined the meeting at 11:58am:
Ricky Rowledge –Director, Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland; and Tony McQuillan– Vice-Chairperson, Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland.
The representatives gave oral evidence on the Housing (Amendment) Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Easton rejoined the meeting at 12:04pm.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 12:15pm.
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 12:20pm.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the oral evidence.
The representatives left the meeting at 12:26pm.
10. Proposed Subordinate Legislation
10.1 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Registered Rent (Increase) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
10.2 The Committee considered the proposed Statutory Rule, The Social Security (Steps to Work) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Rule.
11. Charity Commission for NI Consultation/Charities Act Commencement Order
11.1 The Committee noted the Department’s proposal to make a second Commencement Order relating to the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
11.2 The Clerk briefed the Committee on the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s ongoing consultation on its guidance on the public benefit test.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Secretariat for the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and request a briefing on the timetable for implementation of the Charities Register and other elements of the Charities Act.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed that the Clerk should write to the Secretariat for the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and request a briefing on the feedback from the consultation on the guidance for the public benefit test.
Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 12:33pm.
12. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules which have been laid in the Assembly:
12.1 SR 2009/318: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
Question put and agreed:
“The Committee for Social Development has considered Statutory Rule 2009/318: The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and subject to the Examiner’s report has no objection to the Rule.”
The meeting moved into closed session at 12:35pm.
Ms Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 12:35pm.
13. Housing (Amendment) Bill – Briefing from the Assembly Bill Office
A representative from the Assembly Bill Office briefed the Committee in relation to the Housing (Amendment) Bill and the use of the Accelerated Passage procedure.
The Chairperson thanked the representative from the Assembly Bill Office for the briefing.
Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 12:37pm.
The briefing finished at 12:53pm.
14. Town Centre Regeneration Inquiry
The Chairperson briefed the Committee on the Town Centre Regeneration Inquiry Report.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 13:07pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would consider further written evidence in relation to a competitive fund for town centre regeneration projects across Northern Ireland.
15. Forward Work Programme
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme.
16. Any other business
16.1 Committee Photograph
The Clerk advised Members that the Committee photograph will be taken on Thursday 24 September 2009 at 10:30am.
17. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 24 September 2009 at 10:30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 13:09pm.